[raj4851]

Hey guys, I'm putting my '39 tudor on an S10 frame(it's what I had). I have the doors "tagged" to the body and am ready to brace the body, across the door openings along with "X" braces and take the doors back out. I just got done cutting what was left of the floorboards out. I'm going to put cross braces in it made out of 1"X1" square tubing for frame mounts. I have 1/4 patch panels, rockers, and outer cowl panels. My quarters are pretty much gone where I need to weld a brace. Should I brace where I can, the front at the cowl, the front of the outer wheelhouses, and at the rear of the body, then put the quarter patch panles and rockers in so I can weld to them? Any help appreciated. Thanks, Rod

[F&J]

I'm going through the same patching right now on a messed up 32. I have started with the quarter patches first to try to get the basic shape of the car correct. I started there as I need to put subrails in place to start making some sort of floor framing to hold the car in shape.

Try to take as many measurements as you can in case stuff moves around AFTER you start cutting & fitting. On other cars I have made scribe marks on the door posts from side to side and scratch the measurement there so it won't rub off

I would do one side at a time and leave the other side holding things in alignment. If you have to un-tack the door to do the patch & rocker, keep constantly checking the door fit. Haste makes a big problem later.

Patch panels are usually off a little. So if there still is the basic shape of the old panel there, try to test fit it over what is there to get an idea what needs to be changed a little. My qtr patches are wrong at the door gap; the vertical edge at the door is not 90 degrees. If I did line it up going by that error, then the wheel arch and the angle of the bottom would have been way off.

[raj4851]

Hey F&J, Thanks for the info. It was a great help. I thought that would be the way to go but I'm glad you reaffirmed my thoughts. I also appreciate the wisdom about the fitment of the quarters. Ya' gotta watch.
Thanks again, Rod